Use the good towels.
I do. Because I think I’m worth it. And feeling worthy is one of many ways I’ve stayed vibrant.
I know too many people from my past who “save the good towels for company.” Or don’t use the better dishes, better coffee cups, better pillow, sheets, you name it….and only use these things for “others.”
Well, I happen to think I’m personally just as deserving. No deprivation for me. Life is too short, and you just might not get around to enjoying all those nice things you ...

Prior Planning Prevents...
Overeating. Too many calories. Potential weight gain. Unhealthy lifestyle.
I think the Army created the original saying “prior planning prevents piss poor performance,” but my version has served me well over the years.
My version is to invest minimal time in planning and consciously thinking about food choices and balanced eating. This takes maybe a couple minutes max.
But I receive big dividends and gains through better health and well-being by putting ...

More Activity.
The number one reason I think I’ve aged vibrantly? Because I move more and make being physically active part of my lifestyle.
More physical activity helps me sleep better, have a more positive daily mindset, controls my blood pressure and cholesterol. Allows me to have more stamina and energy daily. Helps prevent injuries and falls – or speeds healing when I do fall or get injured. Activity and movement just keeps me healthier overall. And sure, it contributes to maintaining ...

National Chili Day happens to be the same day as National Margarita Day. Both of these celebrations fall during Canned Foods Month.
So I'm celebrating all of them with a batch of my easy stove-top chili, but not my traditional Big Beef Chili. Today I'd like some warmth and tropical flair, so I'm doing my Caribbean-Spiced Chili with Beef and Pork. Or maybe my Black and White Chicken Chili. Both contain a variety of nutrient-rich canned foods, from canned broth ...

More whole grains and more vegetables.....that's my goal again today at the Fantastic Food Fest at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.
I'll be at the Kroger booth so stop by and say hi!
First up, more whole grains with my favorite Cornmeal Waffles, made into a breakfast-for-dinner savory waffle with chipotle and ancho chili powders.
Savory Cornmeal Waffles Save Print Prep time 5 mins Cook time 15 mins Total time 20 mins ...

Remember those New Year's resolutions you made a couple weeks ago to eat healthier and exercise more? Well it's NEVER too late to start, especially if you have a food-loving dietitian on your side, cheering you along with small, sensible steps. I’m all about realistic, not radical, ways to eat smarter and add activity. Here are my five favorite tips to help you create lifelong healthy habits.
#1. Eat more protein at breakfast.
More protein means more fullness, or satiety. And more fullness ...

Take a trip with your skillet to your stovetop for some global, Thai-inspired soup. The only ingredients requiring prep are the onions and garlic - some fast chopping. Other than that, this savory fruit soup - that's right, pumpkin is a fruit - needs only dumping from cans, jars and containers. My kind of soup-making.
But how's this for an added perk? Filled with immune-boosting ingredients to keep you healthy and hopefully keep colds and flu at bay. Lentils offer lean protein for muscle ...

A big bowl of immune-boosting nutrients to help fight flu, but keep you overall healthy, too. That's what my Beef Barley Vegetable Soup is.
Before I blather on with all the health benefits, let me say this is EASY to make. And it makes a BIG BATCH - perfect for big eaters or big families. About 18-20 cups, so that would be 9 to 10 servings of 2 cups each. And it'll last a couple days (leftovers = no cooking!).
Now, those health-boosting benefits: lean beef (zinc and protein for muscle ...

Three cheers for tomato soup that's fast, easy and filled with all the right nutrients to keep you healthy and happy. Except for chopping the onion and garlic, you simply open and dump canned and jarred ingredients. Technically, you could use already chopped fresh or frozen onion and ready-to-use chopped garlic to save even more time.
Tomatoes, red pepper, garlic and onions give you tremendous immune-boosting, disease-fighting nutrients. Good for healthy blood pressure and heart health, ...